FLETCHER ANNOUNCES GAS TAX TRANSFER TO DOUBLE, PAYMENT TO HEADINGLEY ACCELERATED

April 16, 2009

 

HEADINGLEY (April 16, 2009) – Families and workers in the RM of Headingley will soon see faster improvements to roads and other local infrastructure thanks to the Conservative government’s doubling of Gas Tax transfers to municipalities, said the Honourable Steven Fletcher, MP for Charleswood – St. James – Assiniboia.

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is doubling the annual funding that the RM of Headingley receives as part of the Gas Tax Fund and making up to $1 billion available to municipalities almost three months early,” said Fletcher. “This increased investment will total $107,603.00 in 2009 and will help to create jobs, boost sales for local businesses and improve the quality of life for the families in Headingley during this challenging economic time in our history.”

“This is very exciting for the R.M. of Headingley” said Wilf Taillieu, Reeve, RM of Headingley.  “We have a long standing agreement with the Province to cost share improvements to the safety and efficiency of the portion of the Trans-Canada Highway which extends through Headingley.  In this agreement it is Headingley’s responsibility to complete the construction and pave the service roads.  The Gas Tax transfers we’ve received since 2005 were entirely committed to a portion of the south service road.  Now, with the new Federal funds designated to complete the highway under the Building Canada Fund and with this additional Gas Tax revenue we plan to continue these improvements to the service roads which will go a long way toward the development and sustainability of our community.”

This latest announcement builds on the Conservative government’s previous action of providing permanent Gas Tax Fund transfers to municipalities. Doubling transfers will further help municipalities ensure that their infrastructure is able to meet the future needs of local families, workers and businesses.

The federal Gas Tax transfers to the provinces and municipalities will double starting April 1, 2009, and will provide a total of $2 billion per year for municipalities to invest in projects like new roads, water treatment plants, improved buses and transit systems, as well as better sewers and bridges. Accelerating the first payment of the Gas Tax Fund by almost three months, the federal government is making up to $1 billion available to municipalities almost three months early. The first payment will be made in April.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Conservative government is building on the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over the next two years. “Our government is proud to be working with provinces and municipalities to deliver stable, predictable funding for infrastructure that Canadians use and depend on every day,” said Fletcher.

The following table is a breakdown of the Gas Tax Fund allocation to Manitoba between 2005-2014: